How to Play Baccarat?

Baccarat played at a land based casino

Round of Baccarat played at Land Based Casino

Baccarat is a game with fairly simple rules that are sometimes obscured due to the haughty atmosphere that surrounds the game. However, in just a few minutes, you can easily master the rules and fully understand how to play baccarat!

The game of baccarat is a shoe-based card game, like blackjack. However, unlike in blackjack, players are not dealt their own individual hands; rather, the dealer handles all the cards (in some high-limit games, players will take turns acting out this role). The player does not decide how to play the hands or make any other strategic decisions during play.

A hand of baccarat begins when each player makes a bet on one of the following: the “player” hand, the “banker” hand, or a tie. It is worth noting again that the “player” hand is not controlled by a player; it is just the designation given to one of the two hands the dealer will handle.

Once all bets are made, the dealer will deal out two cards each to the player and the banker. Each card rank has a different point value. Aces are worth one point, cards between two and nine are worth their printed number, and tens or face cards are worth zero points.

Each hand can be scored by adding the value of the cards in the hand, and looking at only the last digit of the total value. For instance, a hand with cards that add up to 17 is worth 7 points; the tens place is dropped and ignored. The best possible hand score is nine points, while the worst possible is zero points.

Both hands are scored, and one or both may receive a third card depending on several rules that the dealer must follow. The first rule is that if either the player or the banker has a hand of 8 or 9, both hands will stand. This rule supersedes all other rules.

If neither player has an 8 or better, the player’s hand is dealt with first. If the player has a 5 or less, he will take a third card; otherwise, the player stands.

The banker strategy is slightly more complex. If the player stands, the banker will always hit on hands of 5 or less, and will stand with 6 or more. However, if the player hits, the dealer decides whether to hit or based on the following rules:

  • 0-2: The dealer always hits.
  • 3: The dealer hits unless the player’s third card was an 8.
  • 4: The dealer hits only if the player’s third card was 2-7.
  • 5: The dealer hits only if the player’s third card was 4-7.
  • 6: The dealer hits only if the player’s third card was 6-7.
  • 7: The dealer always stands.

After any third cards have been dealt, the scores of the player and banker hands are compared. The higher score wins, and all bets on that hand are paid. Winning bets on the player pay even money. Technically, winning bets on the banker are said to pay even money as well; however, the house takes a 5% “commission” on these bets. For example, on a $20 bet on the banker that wins, the player will only receive $19. In live casinos, the dealer will usually pay out these bets at even money, while keeping track of commissions and collecting them at the end of each shoe.

If the player and banker hands tie, bets on both hands push, while the tie bet wins instead. The tie bet usually pays 8-1, though some casinos offer 9-1 odds instead.

Now that you know how to play Baccarat, why not choose from one of the top online baccarat sites listed on our homepage?

 

Where to Play Baccarat?

Now that you’ve reasonable knowledge about Casino Baccarat, it’s time to use and apply it by playing a round or two of the game.

First of all – ALL online casinos will allow you to play completely free, with no strings attached. In some circumstances, they will ask you to sign up for an account, but depositing will never be a requirement, apart from Live Dealer Baccarat.

 

  Site Bonus Rating US Review Play Now
1 Gaming Club Online Casino $350 + 30 Total Free spinsT&C Apply 18+ 10 / 10 Review Play Now
2 Jackpot City Casino no Deposit $£ 1600 + No Deposit 30 Free SpinsT&C Apply 18+ 10 / 10 Review Play Now
3 Vegas Paradise Online Casino $/£1000 + 75 spins New members onlyT&C Apply 18+ 10 / 10 Review Play Now
4 Inter Casino $600T&C Apply 18+ 9.5 / 10 Review Play Now
5 Europa Casino $2400T&C Apply 18+ 9.4 / 10 Review Play Now

We’ve listed our favorite casino sites for playing Baccarat – they should fit all players.